US7646969B2 - Camera snubber assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system for limiting the motion of components such as the optics of a camera are disclosed. The system can comprise a stage and a snubber assembly for controlling motion of the stage in six degrees of freedom. For example, the snubber assembly can permit movement in one translational degree of freedom while substantially limiting motion in the other five degrees of motion so as to facilitate focusing and/or zooming of a camera while inhibiting misalignment of the optics and while providing some protection against shock and vibration. Such motion control can be achieved while mitigating costs associated with precision manufacturing of the snubber assembly.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application claims the benefit of the priority date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/657,261, filed on Feb. 28, 2005 and entitled AUTOFOCUS CAMERA pursuant to 35 USC 119. The entire contents of this provisional patent application are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to cameras. The present invention relates more particularly to a snubber assembly for limiting the motion of optical elements in a miniature camera, such as a miniature camera that is suitable for use in a cellular telephone.

BACKGROUND

Miniature cameras are well known. Miniature cameras are widely used in contemporary cellular telephones. They are also used in other devices, such as laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Miniature cameras can even be used as stand alone devices for such applications as security and surveillance.

Contemporary miniature cameras, such as those used in cellular telephones, are fixed focus cameras. That is, the focus of the cameras is preset. The camera has a small enough aperture so as to provide sufficient depth of field such that focus is generally acceptable over a wide range of distances. However, such stopping down of the camera severely limits it's use in low light conditions.

Stopping down also limits resolution since it tends to inhibit the use of higher pixel count imagers. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, larger apertures allow higher imager pixel counts, but require the use of variable focus.

Variable focus necessitates the use of movable optics. However, movable optics suffer from inherent disadvantages. Foremost among these disadvantages is the size of the mechanisms required to effect and control movement of the movable optics. For example, the structures used to control the movement of optics in larger cameras are simply too large for use in many miniature cameras. As such, it is desirable to provide miniature structures for controlling motion in miniature cameras.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A method and system for controlling, i.e., limiting, the motion of miniature components, such as the optics of a camera, are disclosed. The system can comprise a stage and a snubber assembly for controlling the motion of the stage in six degrees of freedom. Camera optics can be attached to the stage to facilitate focusing and/or zooming. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stage can move freely in one degree of freedom within a limited range of motion. Thus, the movement of the stage can be used for moving optics so as to effect focus and/or zoom, for example.

For example, the snubber assembly can readily permit movement in one translational degree of freedom while substantially limiting motion in the other five degrees of freedom. This is accomplished in a manner that facilitates focusing and/or zooming of a camera while inhibiting misalignment of the optics and while also providing some protection against shock and vibration.

Such motion control can be achieved while mitigating the costs associated with precision manufacturing of the snubber assembly. More particularly, the precision with which manufacturing of the snubber assembly is performed can be reduced by relying upon physical features of a stage assembly to facilitate precise positioning of physical features of the snubber assembly. That is, positioning of at least some features of the snubber assembly are dependent upon corresponding features of the stage assembly such that desirable alignment of the snubber assembly with respect to the stage assembly results.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, mesas of the snubber assembly abut stationary or fixed portions of the stage assembly so as to define, at least in part, one or more horizontal gaps between the stage and the snubber assembly. The size of these horizontal gaps determines the limits of horizontal movement of the stage.

Similarly, shims of the snubber assembly abut the fixed portion of the stage assembly so as to define, at least in part, one or more vertical gaps between the stage and the snubber assembly. The size of these vertical gaps determines the limits of vertical movement of the stage.

Undesirable rotations of the stages can also be limited by the snubber assembly of the present invention. Pitching motion (rotation about the horizontal or lateral axis, which is orthogonal to the direction of travel) results in up and down vertical motion of the front and back ends of the stage. Similarly, yaw motion (rotation about a vertical axis) results in horizontal or lateral motion of the front and back ends of the stage. Similarly, roll motion (rotation about an axis along the direction of travel) results in vertical motion of the sides of the stage. Since the snubber assembly inhibits vertical motion of the front and back ends of the stage, lateral motion of the front and back ends of the stage, and vertical motion of the sides of the stage, these three rotations are substantially inhibited.

According to one aspect of the present invention, smaller features of the snubber assembly are manufactured with higher tolerances, while larger features of the snubber assembly can be manufactured with lower tolerances. It is not necessary to manufacture larger features of the snubber assembly with higher tolerances and thus manufacturing costs are therefore substantially reduced.

This invention will be more fully understood in conjunction with the following detailed description taken together with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective top view of a stage and snubber assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective cross-sectional view of the stage and snubber assembly taken alongline2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an outboard perspective view of a snubber portion ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an inboard perspective view of the snubber portion ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top or bottom (both are identical) perspective view of the stage assembly ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the interface of the top snubber, the bottom snubber, and the stage, taken withinline5 ofFIG. 2.

Embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A method and system for defining the motion of a stage is disclosed. The stage is suitable for mounting camera optics upon. For example, focus and/or zoom lenses can be mounted to the stage. According to one aspect of the present invention, motion of the stage in six degrees of freedom is controlled. More particularly, motion in five degrees of freedom is substantially limited, while motion in one translational degree is freedom is facilitated. For example, translational motion in two degrees of freedom can be limited to approximately 10 microns, rotational motion in three degrees of freedom can be limited to approximately 0.1 degrees, and translational motion in one degree of freedom in excess of one millimeter can be facilitated.

In this manner, the stage can be permitted to translate along one axis sufficiently so as to effect focusing and/or zooming, while not being permitted to translate sufficiently along other axes or to rotate about any axis sufficiently so as to effect misalignment of the optics to a degree that would substantially degrade performance of the camera. Moreover, the snubber assembly of the present invention can be configured so as to only effect motion control when the stage is caused to move outside of a set of predefined ranges. That is, the snubber assembly can be configured such that it has no effect until the stage experiences a shock or abnormal operation that would otherwise cause it to move in an undesirable manner. When this happens, the snubber assembly can then restrict motion of the stage to within the desired ranges, so as to prevent the misalignment of optics, for example. Thus, during normal operation, the snubber assembly can have little or no effect.

One way to make a snubber assembly that limits movement of a stage is to use close (precise) tolerances to assure that all features of the snubber assembly are properly located. However, such construction of the snubber assembly requires that the comparatively large structures thereof be manufactured with the same close tolerances as the comparatively small structures. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, while it is comparatively easy to manufacture smaller structures with such close tolerances, it becomes increasingly difficult to do so as the size of the structures increases. That is, deviations from desired dimensions tend to accumulate across larger distances, making it difficult to maintain close tolerances. According to one aspect of the present invention, a different approach results in a snubber that precisely limits the motion of a stage.

According to one aspect of the present invention, critical gap dimensions are obtained by manufacturing only selected small structures of the snubber assembly with comparatively higher precision, while manufacturing the rest (particularly the larger dimensions) of the snubber assembly with substantially lower precision. Because the larger dimensions are manufactured with lower precision, the positions of the smaller structures of the snubber assembly are not precise.

This lack of precision in the location of the smaller structures can be compensated for by using portions of the stage assembly to precisely position the smaller structures. That is, the smaller structures of the snubber assembly are effectively keyed into position using precisely formed portions of the stage assembly. Thus, the position of snubbers manufactured, at least in part, with a comparatively low amount of precision is determined by a portion of a stage assembly that is manufactured with a comparatively high amount of precision.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 2, a stage assembly10 (better shown inFIG. 5) is sandwiched between two portions,11 and12 (better shown inFIGS. 3 and 4), of asnubber assembly13, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Thestage assembly10 and thesnubber assembly13 can be generally planar structures, formed from silicon, for instance.Stage assembly10 and/orsnubber assembly13 can alternatively be formed from another material, such as plastic or metal. Alternatively, both thestage assembly10 and thesnubber assembly13 can be formed from either plastic or silicon or any other desired material or combination of materials.

Stage assembly10 comprises astage41 that moves back-and-forth, so as to facilitate movement of optics for focusing and/or zooming, for example.Stage assembly10 further comprises aframe42 that generally surrounds stage41 (as best seen inFIG. 5).Frame42 is fixed in position with respect tosnubber assembly13 and thus does not move. Arrow16 shows the back-and-forth directions of motion ofstage41 with respect to frame42 (better shown inFIG. 5) and with respect tosnubber assembly13.Snubber assembly13 facilitates such back-and-forth motion ofstage41 while substantially inhibiting all other motions ofstage41.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, eachportion11,12 ofsnubber assembly13 can be a generally planar and generally rectangular structure.Snubber assembly13 can comprise two biasingmembers31 and32 that function as springs to bias twosides33 and34 outwardly, so as to cause them to contact portions (surfaces56 and57 as shown inFIG. 6) offrame42 in a manner that advantageously positions critical features ofsnubber assembly13, as discussed in detail below. Alternatively, the inherent resiliency ofsnubber assembly13 can effect such biasing.

Each biasingmember31,32 can comprise aninboard member35, anoutboard member36, and twoside members37 and38 that are configure to cooperate so as to provide spring tension that moves thesides33 and34 outwardly aftersides33,34 have been pushed inwardly (such as whenstage assembly10 is being installed therebetween). That is, the rectangle defined by aninboard member35, anoutboard member36, and twoside members37 and38 can deform so as to define a parallelogram that provides spring tension. Eachportion11,12 ofsnubber assembly13 further comprises structural features that cooperate withstage assembly10 to define tolerances or spacings betweensnubber assembly13 andstage41, as discussed in detail with reference toFIG. 6 below.

With particular reference toFIG. 4, eachportion11,12 ofsnubber assembly13 may have formed upon an inboard (snubber assembly10 contacting) surface thereof a plurality ofmesas51, shims61, and stops58, the functions of which are discussed in detail with reference toFIG. 6 below. Although mesas are shown formed upon both of the snubber assemblies, mesas may alternatively be formed upon only one of the snubber assemblies. Mesas can be formed upon both snubber assemblies so as to maintain symmetry (so as to allow a single part to be capable of being used as either an upper snubber or a lower snubber. However, such symmetry is not a requirement. Therefore, a single mesa (which will generally have approximately twice the height of the mesas shown inFIG. 4) can replace each complimentary pair of mesas.

Referring now toFIG. 5,stage assembly10 comprises a movable portion orstage41 and a fixed portion orframe42.Stage41 can be a generally planar, generally rectangular structure. Optics are attachable, either directly or indirectly, to stage41.

Stage41 can move in response to a motor or actuator, such as to effect focusing and/or zooming. For example, an optics assembly (not shown) can be attached to stage41 via apertures43a-43d.

Frame42 can similarly be a generally planar and generally rectangular structure that can substantially surround a periphery ofstage41.Frame42 can be movably attached to stage41 viaflexure assemblies45 and46.Flexure assemblies45 and46 can preferentially facilitate movement ofstage41 in one desired translational degree of freedom, i.e., in the back-and-forth directions of arrow16 ofFIG. 1.Snubber assembly13 can limit movement ofstage41 that is beyond the one desired translation degree of freedom.

Stage41, as well asframe42,snubber assembly13, and other components of the present invention, can be of any desired shape and/or configuration.Stage assembly10 can be formed monolithicly, such as via the etching or milling of a single piece of silicon or other material. Similarly,snubber assembly13 can also be formed monolithicly. Alternatively,stage assembly10 and/orsnubber assembly13 can be formed in any other desired manner using any desired material. Indeed, the reduced precision needed bysnubber assembly13 according to one aspect of the present invention allowssnubber assembly13 to be formed of plastic using low a precision manufacturing process.

Snubber assembly13 defines limits to movement ofstage41, so as to inhibit movement in five other degrees of freedom for which it is desirable to restrict movement ofstage41. Such limitations on the movement ofstage41 tend to maintain desired alignment of components, such as optics. The limitations are also desirable, for example, in the event of shock or vibration that wouldother cause stage41 to move in a manner that may cause damage to itself or other components, e.g., lenses of a camera. Thus, the stage, and consequently the camera optics, can be permitted to move in a manner that facilitates desired functionality, e.g., focusing and/or zooming, while also being restrained in a manner that mitigates undesirable malfunctioning (misalignment of optics) and damage.

Referring now toFIG. 6, exemplary structures ofstage assembly10 andsnubber assembly13 that limit motion ofstage41 in five degrees of freedom while facilitating substantially more motion in a sixth degree of freedom (as indicated by arrow16 inFIG. 1) are shown. Eachportion11,12 ofsnubber assembly13 comprises features such asmesas51,52, shims53,54, and stops58,59 that define limits to the movement ofstage41 in five degrees of freedom while permitting unrestricted movement ofstage41 in one degree of freedom.

Mesas51,52, shims53,54, and stops58,59 are formed precisely. They are also precisely positioned by keying to or abutting precisely formed portions offrame42, so that they are, in-turn, precisely positioned themselves and are thus suitable for defining limits to the movement ofstage41.

In this manner, the limits to the movement ofstage41 can be defined with greater precision than the precision with which theoverall snubber assembly13 is manufactured because thesnubber assembly13 cooperates with theframe42 of thestage assembly10 to define positioning of the structures that limit motion ofstage41 and becauseframe42 is manufactured with sufficient precision so as to facilitate such definition of these positions.

More particularly, the width, Dimension A, of eachmesa51,52 together with the distance betweenstage41 andframe42, Dimension C, defines the size of the horizontal gap, Dimension B, betweenstage41 andsnubber assembly13. Since the width of eachmesa51,52, Dimension A, and the distance between thestage41 and theframe42, Dimension C, can be easily controlled, the horizontal gap, Dimension B, can likewise be easily controlled. The distance between thestage41 andframe42, Dimension C, is controlled by precisely manufacturing the overall dimensions ofstage assembly10. The width ofmesa51,52 only requires precision in the manufacturing of a comparatively small portion of thesnubber assembly13, i.e., eachmesa51,52 itself. It does not require that the position of eachmesa51,52 be precisely determined during manufacturing ofsnubber assembly13.

Positioning of eachmesa51,52 is determined by its contact withframe42 atsurfaces56 and57. Contact atsurfaces56 and57 is effected by the outward biasing ofside members33 and34 of eachportion11,12 of snubber assembly, as described above. Sinceframe42 ofsnubber assembly13 is manufactured with precision, this contact point is precisely located. Thus, the size of the horizontal gap, Dimension B, between thestage41 and thesnubber assembly13 can be controlled without requiring that the overall manufacturing tolerances ofsnubber assembly13 be precise.

Similarly, the thickness, Dimension D, of eachshim53,54 together with the thickness, Dimension E, offrame42, defines the size of each horizontal gap, such as Dimension F, betweenstage41 and thestops58,59 ofsnubber assembly13.Shims53,54contact frame42 atsurfaces61,62 thereof. This contact is effected by attachment of theupper portion11 to thelower portion12 ofsnubber assembly13 by any desired means, such as by adhesive bonding.Upper portion11 andlower portion12 can be attached to one another directly, or can be attached to one another indirectly, such as by adhesively bondingupper portion11 andlower portion12 to stage41 or by using detents or the like to attachupper portion11 andlower portion12 to stage41.

There are two such vertical gaps on each of the two sides ofstage41. On each side ofstage41, one vertical gap is abovestage41 and one vertical gap is belowstage41. Since the thickness, Dimension D, of eachshim53,54, and the thickness, Dimension E, offrame42 can be precisely controlled, each vertical gap, Dimension F, can also be precisely controlled. The thickness, Dimension D, of each shim can be controlled by precisely manufacturing a small portion of thesnubber assembly13. The thickness, Dimension E, offrame42 can be precisely controlled during manufacture thereof. As with the horizontal gap, Dimension B, the distance betweenstage41 andframe42 defining each one of the vertical gaps, such as Dimension F, is controlled by precisely manufacturing the overall dimensions ofstage assembly10. The thickness, Dimension D, ofshims53,54 only requires precision in the manufacturing of a comparatively small portion ofsnubber assembly13, i.e., eachshim53,54 itself. Again, it does not require that the position of eachshim53,54 be precisely determined during manufacturing ofsnubber assembly13.

It is worthwhile to note that a vertical gap, Dimension G, is provided betweenmesas51 and52 to insure that they do not contact one another and thereby interfere with proper positioning ofshims53 and54 (and consequently with the definition of the vertical gaps betweenstage41 andsnubber assembly13, such as Dimension F). The size of the vertical gap, Dimension G, is not crucial.

For example, Dimension A can be approximately 300 microns, Dimension B can be approximately 10 microns, Dimension C can be approximately 310 microns, Dimension D can be approximately 25 microns, Dimension E can be approximately 300 microns, Dimension F can be approximately 10 microns, and Dimension G can be approximately 25 microns. However, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, various other values for these dimensions are likewise suitable and the dimensions used will depend upon the specific application.

Thus, only themesas51,52, shims53,54 and stops58,59 ofsnubber assembly13 need be precisely manufactured. These are comparatively small portions ofsnubber assembly13 and can thus be precisely manufactured with relative ease. The overall dimensions ofsnubber assembly13 do not require such precision. Moreover, according to one aspect of the present invention, close tolerances (Dimensions B and F, for example) between thestage41 and thesnubber assembly13 are obtained without requiring that the larger dimensions of snubber assembly be precisely controlled.

Rather, the larger dimensions ofstage assembly10 are controlled, as well as the smaller dimensions of critical structures ofsnubber assembly13 that cooperate withstage assembly10 to determine the dimensions of critical gaps therebetween (such as Dimensions B and F). In this manner, the manufacturing process of the stage and snubber assembly of the present invention is simplified and the cost thereof is mitigated.

Optionally,channels63 and64 are formed in upper11 and lower12 portions ofsnubber assembly13.Channels63 and64 mitigate the likelihood ofedges81 and82 (FIG. 5) ofstage41 contacting upper11 and lower12 portions ofsnubber assembly13 and causing damage to stage41 and/orsnubber assembly13.

Similarly, cutouts71-74 (best shown inFIG. 3) can be formed in upper11 and lower12 portions ofsnubber assembly13 to inhibit corners86-89 (FIG. 5) from contacting upper11 and lower12 portions ofsnubber assembly13 and causing damage to stage41 and/orsnubber assembly13.

In operation,stage41 can move substantially in one translational degree of freedom, as indicated by arrow16 ofFIG. 1. For example, optics mounted to stage41 can be moved in these directions to effect focusing and/or zooming of a camera. Such movement ofstage41 results in compression of one set of flexures (such asflexures45 ofFIG. 5), while simultaneously resulting in expansion of the other set of flexures (such asflexures46 ofFIG. 5). The amount of movement along this one degree of freedom is limited by the configuration offlexures45,46 and by the size offrame42, not bysnubber assembly13.

It is also worthwhile to note that the stage and snubber assembly of the present invention can be configured such that duringnormal operation stage41 does not contactsnubber assembly13. Thus, the snubbing action that can be provided bymesas51,52 and stops58,59 can be for extraordinary circumstances, such as when the device is accidentally dropped. However, in such extraordinary circumstances, the snubber assembly of the present invention can prevent excessive motion in any combination of degrees of freedom.

Movement in the five restricted degrees of freedom is comparatively limited. Translation ofstage41 from side-to-side (toward and away frommesas51,52) is limited bymesas51,52. That is, whenstage41 moves from side-to-side by an amount greater than Dimension B, it contacts mesas51,52, which restrict its motion. Translation ofstage41 up and down (toward and away fromstops58,59) is similarly limited bystops58,59. All rotations ofstage41 are limited by eithermesas51,52 or stops58,59.

More particularly, undesirable pitching motion (rotation about the horizontal or lateral axis, which is orthogonal to the direction of travel) results in up and down vertical motion of the front and back ends of the stage that is limited by stops58. Similarly, yaw motion (rotation about a vertical axis) results in horizontal or lateral motion of the front and back ends of the stage that is limited bymesas51. Similarly, roll motion (rotation about an axis along the direction of travel) results in vertical motion of the sides of the stage that is limited by stops58. Sincesnubber assembly13 inhibits vertical motion of the front and back ends ofstage41, lateral motion of the front and back ends of thestage41, and vertical motion of the sides of thestage41, these three rotations, i.e., pitch, roll, and yaw, are substantially inhibited.

Thus, according to at least one aspect of the present invention, motion control is provided for camera optics or the like wherein limits on the movement of the optics are defined by a snubber assembly that can be manufactured, at least in part, using comparatively low precision techniques. This is because features of fixed portion orframe42 ofstage assembly10 are used to align motion limiting features (such asmesas51,52 and stops58,59) ofsnubber assembly13. In this manner, the cost of manufacturing the stage and snubber assembly is substantially mitigated.

Although the snubber assembly is described herein as being suitable for controlling the motion of a stage that supports the optics of a camera, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the stage can similarly be used to support other items. For example, the stage can alternatively be used to position a specimen for viewing under a microscope or for other analysis. Thus, discussing the invention herein as being useful for positioning the optics of a camera is by way of example only, and not by way of limitation.

Embodiments described above illustrate, but do not limit, the invention. It should also be understood that numerous modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims (26)

1. A stage and snubber assembly for defining motion of optics, the stage and snubber assembly comprising:

a stage assembly to which the optics are attachable; and,

a snubber assembly configured to limit the amount of motion of the stage in five degrees of freedom while facilitating a substantially greater amount of motion in a sixth degree of freedom,

wherein the stage assembly comprises a movable portion and a fixed portion, a gap between the snubber assembly and the movable portion of the stage assembly being defined by abutting structures of the snubber assembly and the fixed portion of the stage assembly.

2. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the stage assembly is generally planar.

3. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein:

the fixed portion is attached to the snubber assembly; and

the movable portion is attached to the optics.

4. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 3, further comprising:

flexures attaching the movable portion to the fixed portion.

5. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly comprises two generally planar portions.

6. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly comprises two generally planar portions that are attached to one another.

7. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly comprises two generally planar portions that are attached to one another via adhesive bonding.

8. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly comprises two generally planar portions that are attached to one another via adhesive bonding to the stage.

9. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly is attached to the stage via adhesive bonding.

10. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly comprises two generally planar portions that are attached to one another via detents.

11. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly comprises a frame that generally surrounds a periphery of a moving portion of the stage assembly.

12. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly comprises two generally planar portions that are attached to one another so as to capture the stage assembly between the two portions.

13. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly comprises two generally planar portions that are attached to one another so as to capture the stage assembly between the two portions in a manner that facilitates construction of the snubber using comparatively lower precision while providing comparatively higher precision of gaps between the snubber assembly and the stage assembly.

14. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein:

horizontal movement of the movable portion of the stage is limited to approximately 10 microns in each of two opposite directions; and,

vertical movement of the movable portion of the stage is limited to approximately 10 microns in each of two opposite directions.

15. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the snubber assembly is manufactured with comparatively low precision and the fixed portion of the stage assembly is manufactured with comparatively high precision.

16. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein larger dimensions of the snubber assembly are manufactured to a precision of approximately 10 microns,

mesas, shims and stops of the snubber assembly are manufactured to a precision of approximately 2 microns, and

the fixed portion of the stage assembly is manufactured to a precision of approximately 1 micron.

17. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, further comprising a channel formed in the snubber assembly so as to inhibit a corner of the movable portion of the stage assembly from contacting the snubber assembly.

18. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the stage assembly and the snubber assembly are arranged in a personal electronic device.

19. The stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein the stage assembly and the snubber assembly are arranged in a personal electronic device selected from the group consisting of:

a portable computer;

a laptop computer;

a notebook computer;

a pocket personal computer (pocket PC);

a personal digital assistant (PDA); and,

a cellular telephone.

20. A camera, comprising:

the stage and snubber assembly as recited inclaim 1; and,

optics attached to the moveable portion of the stage assembly.

21. A cellular telephone comprising the camera ofclaim 20.

22. A camera, comprising:

a stage assembly to which optics are attached;

means for defining motion of the stage in six degrees of freedom, wherein overall dimensions of the means are manufactured with substantially less precision than smaller, gap defining structures of the means; and

wherein the stage assembly comprises a movable portion and a fixed portion, a gap between the means for defining motion and the movable portion of the stage assembly being defined by abutting structures of the means for defining motion and the fixed portion of the stage assembly.

23. A cellular telephone comprising a camera, the camera comprising:

a stage assembly to which the optics are attached;

means for defining motion of the stage in six degrees of freedom, wherein overall dimensions of the means are manufactured with substantially less precision than smaller, gap defining structures of the means; and

wherein the stage assembly comprises a movable portion and a fixed portion, a gap between the means for defining motion and the movable portion of the stage assembly being defined by abutting structures of the means for defining motion and the fixed portion of the stage assembly.

24. A method for controlling motion, the method comprising:

forming a stage assembly to a comparatively higher degree of precision;

forming larger features of a snubber assembly to a comparatively lower degree of precision;

forming smaller features of the snubber assembly to a comparatively higher degree of precision; and

wherein the stage assembly comprises a movable portion and a fixed portion, a gap between the snubber assembly and the movable portion of the stage assembly being defined by abutting structures of the snubber assembly and the fixed portion of the stage assembly.

25. A method for substantially restricting motion of a stage assembly in five degrees of freedom while facilitating a substantially greater amount of motion of the stage in a sixth degree of freedom, the method comprising:

capturing the stage assembly within a snubber assembly;

using features of a fixed portion of the stage assembly to align motion limiting features of the snubber assembly; and

wherein the stage assembly comprises a movable portion and a fixed portion, a gap between the snubber assembly and the movable portion of the stage assembly being defined by abutting structures of the snubber assembly and the fixed portion of the stage assembly.

26. A method for making a stage and snubber assembly, the method comprising:

forming a stage assembly;

forming a snubber assembly for the stage, the snubber assembly having larger dimensions thereof and having gap defining features thereof;

using comparatively lower precision for the larger dimensions and using comparatively higher precision for the gap defining features; and

wherein the stage assembly comprises a movable portion and a fixed portion, a gap between the snubber assembly and the movable portion of the stage assembly being defined by abutting structures of the snubber assembly and the fixed portion of the stage assembly.

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